Ice hurts and heals

Ice. Slick. Cold. Smooth. Hard.

Lets focus for a moment on the slick aspect of it.

We took the kids and a friend to an ice skating rink today. "What could possibly go wrong?"

Ice skating or "controlled skidding" as I call it, can be fun, IF you understand that if you come in contact with the ice at any speed above tilting a glass to your mouth, it will hurt. In some instances I have seen the glass with ice wreak havoc as well.

If you are a 7 year old and/or don't have a good grasp on physics this is a hard(pun intended) lesson to learn.

Today Felex found out what happens when you meet, for all intents and purposes, an immovable object at the speed of falling off your ice skates. Face first.

Blood stains ice. Noses are softer than skating ice and possibly regular ice as well. Once you are on your butt or face, it is hard to get your feet back under you. This only makes the situation much much worse.

The good side is that we avoided losing any of the permanent teeth. The last face plant on concrete cost both upper front teeth and lots and lots and lots of tears.

Oddly enough when I went to the office for some ice(ha ha) they gave me a chemical pack. I could not understand, with all the snow and ice around why they gave me this. They said that it cooled rapidly and stayed cold longer than ice. I said that there is ice all over and it is already cold and I could just about keep myself in a constant supply if I just had a plastic bag. It took all 4 people in the office to try to break the contents of the bag so that it would give off the wonderful cold that was needed. Whatever...

Well, since I wasn't skating(someone had to be able to drive us to the hospital) I was in charge of the camera. I have some wonderful action, or rather inaction, pictures of the accident. Post face plant, as I was having a discussion with one of the locals lads who was looking for a few extra dollars to stave off the hunger pangs. Any who.... I have some pictures of the poor lad coming off the ice looking to all to be a mighty hockey player that just showed someone how to do a proper hip check, and promptly cleared the benches for a mini-brawl on the ice.

After the nice hard ice we went to a hill with some nice soft snow. The boys were not happy with the "penguin sledding" Dexter thought would be fun. Sliding down the hill on your belly. They found an abandoned metal garbage can lid and decided that would make a good sled. I think the found out why the lid was abandoned.

All in all, there was every imaginable emotion today from the boys from extreme happiness to crying and blaming others for your pain.

Next is skiing.

Merry Xboxmas

Christmas came and went with a dull roar. Many happy expressions and packages were opened. We carefully picked the order the kids opened their packages. You know, from small to BIG!

We knew that the XBOX would be a huge hit. We knew that the snap-tite model would be a huge hit. We knew that the skateboard would be a huge hit. We were not expecting the Mexican Coke(you know the one that actually uses real "sugar", the kind they don't sell to large corporations here in states anymore? At least I assume they don't as most larger corporations don't use it in their products. Oops, I'm ranting....) anyway, the Mexican Coke was as huge a hit as the XBOX. Mild surprise. They wanted Coke before video games. Huh. Whatever.

The next 4 days was spent relaxed attempting to beat one of the video games. Felex and I logged at least 40 hours playing Lego Indiana Jones. We were very dedicated. Only sleeping and eating when absolutely necessary. We beat it and now we are waiting for more sequels.

Get busy Spielberg!

Hornet

It has been a bad year for the animals at our house. We lost 2 cats and the day after Christmas a finch.

I think that the finch has been the hardest lesson on "life" for a 7 and 10 year old.

At least the cats would let you pet them occasionally, when they wanted you to. The really loved it when you gave them food and water. Occasionally they would show their appreciation with the offering of a dead rodent or other animal at the front door. Usually first thing in the morning. Always a treat.

The finch, I am not convinced even liked us. It seemed to me that they would be scared near death every time you put food or water in the cage.

Just the same, the boys loved their finches. As they unconditionally love all the animals in the house.

Well, maybe Dex doesn't always love Sheeba, but we all have those times when it is hard to love an animal that has just chewed up your prize toy jet. Well one of them anyway since they are all a prize.

Well today Hornet was not looking too well. A few hours later we took the cage out for cleaning and Hornet was no longer with us.

The boys are devastated. They have made a nice little coffin with some of Hornets favorite things. An orange, some millet, and Dex's lucky key. I don't know where it came from, but it was lucky for him and now it will be lucky for Hornet. They have a wonderful head stone/plank that will serve as a reminder to all that miss Hornet.

Farewell Hornet, we hardly knew ye.

Beer

I like beer it makes me a jolly good fellow. Whiskys too rough. Champagne costs too much. Vodka puts my mouth in gear. Yes I know the verses are out of order, but it puts my point across.

Beer snobbery. Am I wrong? I really don't think so.

There have been many snobs before me. Wine. Movies. Areas of a city in which to live. Clothing. Soda. Cars.

You know someone on this list, think about it....

I enjoy most distilled spirits. Probably too much. I got my sub kicked out of a few bars PERMANENTLY. At least that is what they said. Usually we had more standing than any other faction at the bar. But, that is another story entirely...

Once I moved from my appreciation of all that is distilled. I went on to all that is brewed. Once I found a palatable beer, my life expanded from there.

Coors, yuck. Bud, yuck. Pyramid, tasty. Sierra Nevada, tasty. Miller, well if that is all that you have.... are you sure? Could you check and see if you have anything else?

Mostly I like the micro brews. Now called "craft brews". As the label "micro brew" is now a misnomer for most.

Deschutte's is a wonderful brewery. Lost Coast another. Even Portland Brewing is nice and tasty.

You will have to find out for yourself what you like. I know what I like and it is not mainstream.

I give and I give and I give

Giving. It's what I do. I give and give and give and give. I give until I am faint. It's not enough. I am constantly reminded that I need to give more.

Today, I received another notice that I need to give more. I received my letter from North State Blood Center that I need to give again. I will.

Mind you, I don't do it for the wonderful after bleeding treats. Nor, do I do it for the promise of free movie tickets(BTW, don't get fooled by this ruse, there is no such thing as a free movie ticket! You end up spending more on drinks and food than you normally would!) or by getting entered into some pool to win a free vacation/car/boat/rv or other item that you will never win.

I do it because I can. Sure I don't do it as often as I could. I want to, I just don't make it there.

I wish that I could donate other parts of me that I don't need/use.

I have several extra brain cells. If I don't give them away I will just end up killing them.

I could part with my appendix. I still have it. I know several people that have had to have theirs removed. If they don't feel whole I would be happy to donate mine.

I have a bunch of extra weight that I would be happy to donate to starving models.

Hair. Not that I am a hairy guy, I just find that it is easier to not have hair. I won't mind when I go bald.

I can not donate a kidney as I will need that to help kill the excess brain cells that I can't donate.

I really don't mind donating blood at all.

Me and the 'nog

I LOVE egg nog. I don't just like, I LOVE it.

Although I LOVE nog, I am glad that I can only get one time a year. I would drink it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I'm sure that I could find a few other occasions during the day that I could have a quick nog break.

I am a purist, so I prefer my nog sans alcohol. I like the alcohol, but it just doesn't do it for me in the nog. It's like cutting your, um, well, I don't know. I just prefer my nog untainted. Pure. Cold. Thick.

I'm not really sure who came up with the idea of egg nog, but I think they should posthumously get some sort of humanitarian award.

Of course, I am sure that there are people who poo-poo the idea of nog. I know there are people who like and dislike everything on the planet. That is why we have such a great variety of items from which to choose and drink.

I would make my own if I knew how. I know where to get the egg part, but I have yet to find a store that stocks nog so I can combine the two whenever I want.

It is probably just as well I only have nog once a year. Otherwise I would have to have a cardiologist on retainer.

In a way only being able to get it one time a year almost makes it that much better. Maybe I wouldn't like it as much on hot July afternoon as I think that I would.

But I can dream. Mmm....nog...

I love the smell of sap at Christmas

Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, how different you look in my house.
When I saw you at the lot,
You had more needles and cost a lot,

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree,
how happy my kids will be..

Well you know the real song.

It is always different. I mean, how we get the tree. We went to a live lot and cut our own a couple of time. We went up into the forest and cut a tree a few times. We bought a live tree a few times. We have gone to a tree lot and bought a pre-cut tree a few times.

Before we were married and had kids, we did not always get a tree. One year we put a motorcycle frame on our porch in San Francisco and lit it up with lights. We had people stopping and asking if they could take pictures. We still have a few old photos laying around of that bike.

Now with kids, I HAVE to have a tree. There is no room for bargaining on this issue. NONE!

On one hand, I am against cutting down a perfectly good tree, decorating it, looking at it for a few weeks, and then tossing it out. I see it as horribly wasteful, but at certain times necessary.

Tonight, I took the kids to a tree lot that a friend of ours owns. I know that I can always do a little horse trading with Buck. It usually works out very well for both of us. I was standing next to a nice fire talking to Buck and the kids were entertaining themselves running around the tree lot and making noise. You know, like children that may have been raised by wolves, but really weren't, they just like to act that way while one or the other parent is occupied and can't say anything.

They made a few passes at the fire and then came back with candy canes in their mouths. Told me that they had found a tree and were gone again. A few minutes later and they came back and informed me that they had also found a tree for their room.

Well, we left the tree lot with two trees in tow and the promise that I will free up one of the stainless steel tables that my friend Buck is looking for in trade.

The trees only have to spend one more night outside. Then we will bring them in, decorate them, light them, put presents under them, and then hopefully recycle them.

Merry Christmas.

I love/hate technology

I despise technology. It takes up way too much of my time.

I have a laptop that I bought almost 4 years ago. You worked great for three and a half years. Then, the innevitible happened. CRASH! Well, having learned my lesson when my desk top computer crashed. I had all of my pictures backed up online. No loss there. Now I am still working on fixing the cause of the computer problem. I think that for all the hours that you saved me, I have now spent trying to fix you, and then some.

Sure, you were convienient. Sure, you made my life easier. Sure, I barely left the house without you. Had it been socially acceptable, I would have hand-cuffed you to my wrist. Just for safety, you understand.

Now I find myself hating the thought of looking at you. I have re-loaded your software. Replaced your harddrive. Re-loaded your software. Replaced your battery. Re-loaded your software. Lovingly dissassembled and cleaned you. Re-loaded your software. Yet you still mock me. Refusing to work for me. After all that we have been through.

I took you on all the road trips I went on. We spent many nights in wonderful vacation spots. So many hotels and motels. Outside on warm spring afternoons. Even up to the snow on a few occasions.

I guess that all there is left is a qualified "technition". Maybe they can give you what you need. I only hope that we can get past this little issue and get back to the good old days.

It's not me, it's you.

Cartoons

I love to watch cartoons. Maybe it is because as an adolescent I was subjected to such inane cartoons as Smurfs, Snorks(basically Smurfs underwater), Bugs Bunny and Roadrunner with most of the violence removed, and many other lame cartoons. If you really want to scream about the lametastic toons of the 80's check this link out; http://www.80scartoons.net/toons/

Don't get me wrong, I do watch regular T.V. as well, just not much.

I like CSI, and the nerd one,.... uh, whats it called, Big Bang Theory. I get it. Ha ha.

I love watching the cartoons that my kids are watching. Spongebob, Danny Fantom, My Life as a Teenage Robot, Jimmy Neutron, Avatar, and there are many more.

It seems to me that the cartoons are more cerebral and funnier. Sure I get it, all cartoons are drawn by adults, therefore, adults should get ALL the jokes, even if the kids only get 80%.

I watch the Simpson's with my children and they love it. I am just beyond happy that they don't get EVERYTHING that is going on. Even now as I write this I am watching Futurama. The best of both worlds! Cartoon and SCI-FI!!

I guess that my point is, I would rather watch cartoons than the news and most sitcoms. I only watch a few "grown up" shows. And that is only when I remember they are on.

Well to me it beats watching the news and finding out that we as a society are going to Hell in a hand basket. Either literally or figuratively. Take your pick.

I like to be entertained when I watch T.V., not depressed. T.V. is there for my enjoyment and I choose to watch something that will make me happy.

I don't know, maybe I would watch the news if there were cartoon anchors. Then again, maybe not.

My MGB

I saw it from the window of a Greyhound bus. I was on my way to go through a physical to enter the Navy. I had to remember where it was as I was in an area that I was unfamiliar with. Two weeks later and several attempts to retrace the bus route and I found it.

Poor thing. Sitting out in a field with only a few sheep to keep it company. The top was so rotted that it immediately went to shreds in your hand. The paint, what there was of it, was not at all appealing, thought it was peeling. There was rust, dents, dings, bumps, holes, spiders and wasp nests. I immediately knew that I had to have it. After all, it was in better shape than the one I was currently driving.

I had a 72 that had come in contact, at high speed in reverse, with another vehicle. Long story. This one was a 67, the preferred year by many. No major body damage. Several shades of red, and bondo in color.

I towed it home and performed an engine-ectomy and power plant transplant. It took about 3 days to get it up and running, more or less safely. Almost as long at the DMV to get it registered and a new title in my name. The longest part of the registration process was the application to keep the original black and yellow California plates.

I started driving it and I drove it for several years and many tens of thousands of miles. At least 3 times back and forth across the country. Countless times up and down the state.

I had it repainted a lovely shade of "Kermit the Frog" green with some black racing stripes when I was stationed in Hawaii. I drove it around and around and around and around the island.

Did you know that they have Interstate highways in Hawaii that don't go to other states? They don't even go to other islands!

Anyway, years later, I loaned it to my roommate while her car was not working. In retrospect I probably shouldn't have let her drive my car. It died on her and she left it on the side of the road and called me to to tell me. I went and picked it up.

It sat and sat and sat. I rebuilt the engine and it sat and sat and sat. I started it once about two and a half years later to make sure that it was ready for some more work.

I have hauled it and moved it to several different homes over the last few years.

I have never given my wife a ride in it, nor has it run since I have been married to her. 12 years now. Wow, time does fly.

I have been collecting parts for it. I have everything I need to make it run. I should be out there working on it, not here at the computer.

I hope that it will forgive me for ignoring it over the last decade and a few years. After all, I did save it from wasting away in a field and hanging out with sheep.

My wife and the OTHER man

I have known for awhile. Sure it came on slowly, as you would expect. I knew that there was another man in my wife's life.

It started innocently enough.

I'm going to bed, I would say.

I'll be right there, she would reply.

Well I would wake up after 11pm and there was an empty spot next to me. Huh? I guess that she must be watching the news....

Then I noticed the pattern.

So, are you going to be staying up late tonight? I asked thinking that I knew the answer.

Huh? What? What do you mean?

Oh, nothing. I'm going to bed. See you soon?

I knew the answer. No. I would not see her soon. It took me a while to get over it.
I guess that I just had to come to the realization that I was the second choice. I knew I could never be number 1. El numero uno. Primo. The first one picked for the team.

Well, once I figured out who I was running against, I decided that I could settle for second best.

Although, I know that in the back of my mind, if "HE" ever shows up, I will be second fiddle. I'm alright with that. I mean really, how could you not be happy being runner up to Mr. Clooney? I am every day, and I am happy to be his stand in. He doesn't know what he is missing.

I am a NERD

I am a nerd. I have known this my whole life. I have even explained this to my wife. I had to get into the subtleties of nerd versus geek, because if you weren't one or the other you didn't know there was a difference. They shouldn't be used interchangeably. Yes, I played sports. Yes, I had fringe friends/acquaintances in the popular crowd in school. Yes, the cool kids knew who I was, but that did not change the fact that I was, and still am, a nerd.

Along with a select few, we came together at lunch time and evenings to do our nerdy things. We played video games, role playing games (you know the ones), went to sci-fi conventions. We even spent a summer covered in carpet padding and remnants and beat on each other with bamboo swords. We played many different games. Most of my colleagues were in band or choir or both.

I just realised a few weeks ago I was still a nerd. I had bought some shirts at REI in Berkeley. I bought 3 shirts and apparently wasn't paying attention to 2 of the shirts that I had bought as they were a size too small to fit my "kingly" personage.

I took the two shirts back and received a refund. I then went over to the shirt area and picked out two shirts that would fit me. When I got to the counter and I was told the total of my purchase, I handed over the exact change that was in my hand.

The clerk looked at me with widening eyes and said "WOW did you just geek that out while you were standing in line? Taxes and all!!??

No, I said. I told him that I am a nerd not a geek. He looked at me puzzled. I tried to explain the differences, but I gave up and told him that I had just returned two shirts that were just too small and I still had the change in my hand.

"oh."

I just hope that when the geek inherit the earth I am still in good standing with them and they give me a good cushy government job.

Away from home for the holidays

I have never been fond of "Family Holidays", then who has, really? I don't know why, but sitting around the table talking about all the stuff that has happened over the past year has never really been appealing to me. I don't know why. I want to care, I really do, I just don't. All I can think about is getting away from my home life for a while and going to relax and see family. When I get there I can't remember why I was so eager to get there. Don't get me wrong I love my family and friends that I share the holiday's with, I just don't know why it has to be ONLY on the holidays. In a perfect world you would see your loved ones whenever you wanted. And when you did not want, you would not see them. Well maybe my world is more perfect than most. I rarely see my side of the family. I enjoy my wife's family and see them as much as is possible. Sure it is not as much as when we were first together/married/happily blessed with child/then children, then who really sees their loved ones as much as they want?

We had to travel about 10 hours to get to Thanksgiving. At the end of that time I was thankful that I had some self control. More so on the way home, than on the way down. I love my kids, but cooped up with a 10 and 7 year old that are either "bored" or "starving" every waking moment of the day, is not much fun. That is, when you have the luxury of going into another room, or even leaving the house it is merely annoying.

When you are cooped up in a 15 square foot area with windows, doors and seat belts. The stereo can't be turned up loud enough to drown out the interment whining about boredom, hunger, space, he has my toy, where is my (whatever)? You get the idea.

So, what is it that am thankful for? After 3 meals in the truck, 12 restroom stops, 29 hours of drive time, almost 1700 miles, and countless "are we there yet?" and other questions. I am thankful that I am home.

Sure one of the dogs decided that the chair in the front room was a chew toy. Yes the kitten/cat is almost unrecognisable. There was no food to eat when we returned home. Yet somehow I am happy to be in my own space.

I enjoyed my holidays. I guess that I have enjoyed all of my holidays, in my own way. Even the ones spent only with roommates and friends. But I think that is what makes them special. You will always spend them with your loved ones no matter where you are in your life.